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T H E PHILOSOPHY 



The crujlaceous tribes, as lobflers, crabs, &c. befide the different 

 appearances they afiume while growing to perfedion, call their 

 (hells every year. When this change is about to happen, they re- 

 tire into the crevices of rocks, or fhelter themfelves below detached 

 ftones, with a view to conceal and defend their bodies from the ra- 

 pacious attacks of other fifhes. After the fhells are caft, the animals 

 are exceedingly weak and defencelefs. Inftead of their natural de- 

 fence of hard (hells, and ftrong claws, they are covered only with a 

 thin membrane or fkin. In this ftate they become an eafy prey to 

 almoft every fi(h that fwlms. The {kin, however, gradually thickens 

 and grows harder, till it acquires the ufual degree of firmnefs. By 

 this time the animals have refumed their former ftrength and activi- 

 ty ; they come out from their retirements, and go about in queft 

 of food. 



Serpents, and many other reptiles^ caft their fkins annually. The 

 beauty and luftre of their colours are then highly augmented. Be- 

 fore calling, the old fkins have a tarniflied and withered appearance. 

 The old {kins, like the firft fet of teeth in children, are forced off by 

 the growth of the new. 



We come now to give fomc account of the transformations of /«» 

 7^(57j, which are both various and wonderful. All winged infeds, 

 without exception, and many of thofe which are deftitute of wings, 

 muft pafs through feveral changes before the animals arrive at the 

 perfe£lion of their natures. The appearance, the {Irudture, and the 

 organs of a caterpillar, of a chryfalis, and of a fly, are fo different, 

 that, to a perfon unacquainted with their transformations, an iden- 

 tical animal would be confulered as three diftindt fpecies. Without 

 the aid of experience, who could believe that a butterfly, adorned 

 with four beautiful wings, fumifhed with a long fpiral probofcis or 

 tongue, inftead. of a mouth, and with fix legs, fhould have proceed- 

 ed 



